The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-09
HON. GEORGE ID. WISE's REASONS,
Review of the Revenue Taxes.

Editor The Daily Times:
| desire to give through your columns
TO the people Of the third congressional
district, whom / have the honor to repre-
sent in the House of Representatives OF
the United States, some of the reasons
which recently impelled me to vote for
the consideration Of measures Of revenue
which involve the iRgome of the Govern
ment. The QUESTION Of the revision OF
the tariff, las, for several years, engaged
tie attention of the people Of the country,
and in my judgment it is Of the utmost
importance that it should receive con
gressiOnal consideration.
1t is but necessary to state that the
motion to proceed TO consider was a
general one. and had no reference to or
connection with the merit of any p%articu-
lar measure. If it had prevailed, a
majority of the House would have been
able to give TO its legislation any shape
which might have been deemed wisest
for the best interests OF the country.
/ Legislation is absolutely necessary, and
that as speedily as possible. This opinion
is shared not merely by one faction, nor
by one party, but, indeed, is the prevail
ing sentiment of both parties
The Government is annually collecting
some one hundred and twenty-five mil
lions more than it expends. This surplus
is the measure of unnecessary taxation,
from which the people may and should
be relieved. If boarded, the effect would
be equivalent to an enormous contraction
of the currency, from which, in turn,
would follow an artificial decline in 6ll
values, a paralysis of business, and, final
ly. a stoppage of the wheels of industry.
The consequences of boarding have
thus far been largely counterbalanced by
the purchase by the Government OF its
w securities. But we have gone about
as far as we car in this direction, and it
is necessary that a large diminution of
our regular revenues should be accomp-
lished as sOon as possible. Failure to do
this would, as suggested, practically in
volve a large contraction of the currency,
or necessitate a resort TO needless and
corrupt expenditures to avoid it. To I'M
lock the present and to prevent The accu-
mutation of another is the problem. The
affect of delay in its solution is to pro-
duce a feeling of uncertainty in many
lines of business which may be affected
by the consequent legislation possible or
probable. Prompt action, therefore, seems
to me to be necessary to revive trade and
to improve business.
Believing it TO be to your interest to
reach a result as soon as possible, | voted
for the consideration of revenue bills,
and shall continue TO do so until the sit
uation shall have been improved. The
proposition for consideration of meas
ures of revenue having been defeated,
Congress has thus far not shaped any
legislation in connection with this sub
ject. will not, therefore, speak Of any
specific measure.
Generally, however, | will say that
when this subject does receive considera-
ton | shall not merely seek to reflect the
deliberate voice of the people of Nir-
ginia, often expressed in reference to it,
because it is my representative duty TO do
so, but also because hat voice entirely
harmonizes with my own views. In ac-
cOrdance with this idea | shall favor the
immediate removal of the entire tobacco
tax, and such other internal revenue
charges as can well be dispensed with at
this time, believing that the settled policy
of acquiring the revenues for the pur-
poses of government principally by a tax
on imports should be adhered to. | be-
lieve that a reduction of the surplus
should at least in part be thus accomp
lished. The whole internal revenue
system is odious, Onerous, and unequal
in its operations.
1t produces %monopolies and is despotic
and inquisitorial. Tobacco is the money
crop of half the tillers of the soil of Vir-
ginia, and to tax it is to tax them for not
only one, but all the necessaries of life,
as it affords the income with which to
purchase them for themselves and fami-
lies. | know that it is urged that the
consumer pays the tax. Whilst this is in
one sense correct, still the tax affects
largely the demand for the manufactured
product, and in that way bears not only
npon the raw staple, but upon the labor
employed in its manufacture, and all else,
which is an element of its price.
If the consumer does at least pay every
thing which enters into the market value
of any manufactured article, still that
market value is determined by the de-
mand, which is largely affected by its
taxation. 1t is a mockery of the tobacco
interest to tell planters that they must
submit to its taxation in order to reduce
taxation, for the lowering of duties to-
ward the revenue standard would in
crease the income of the Government in
stead of reducing it, as the pretense of
justification for continuapce of this tax
implies.
In the revision of the fiscal system of
the Government, which seems to be de-
manded by the industrial interests of the
country and the necessities of business,
the distinct assurance repeatedly given to
the people of the country, that taxation
shall be measured by the wants of the
Government economically administered,
should be made good. LIN the pursuit Of
this object | shall deem it TO be my duty
to endeavor to secure for particular
interests of Virginia such incidental
protection as can be given.
Respectfully, GEORGE ID. WISE.